Stair tread



Oct. i

H. FROOD S'TAIR TREAD Filed Aug. 7 1921 Patented @et. 21, 1924;.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT FROOD, F CHAPEL-EN-LE-FRITH, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO FEIRODO LIMITED, OF CHAPEL-EN-Lll FRITH, ENGLAND.

STAIR TREAD.

Serial No. 496,096.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT OF MARCII 3, 1921, 41 STAT. L, 1313.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT Fnooo, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of Chapelen-le- Frith, in the county of Derby, England,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements. in or Relating to Stair Treads (for which I have filed an application in Great Britain, August 2, 1919, No. 166,239),

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to non-slipping devices for the noses or the front edges of steps and the treads ofstairs, of the kind comprising a metal plate or bar provided with projections which present an interrupted or roughened surface to the foot along the nose or the front edge of the step or stair tread to prevent slipping of the foot when same is presented thereto at an inclination to the horizontal or vertical. Hitherto, in non-slipping devices of the said kind the projections have been formed on the face or surface of the plate or bar.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved device of the said kind, which will be more eflicient in use than devices hitherto proposed, and also to pro vide for the adjustment and reversal of the device when worn.

According to this invention, a non-slipping device of the kind referred to consists of a metal plate or bar adapted to be secured along the nose or the front edge of the step or stair tread and notched or gapped along one of its longitudinal edges to form teeth or projections, the points or tips of which present an interrupted surface along the nose or front edge of the step or stair tread. The plate or bar may be adjustably secured in position by screws or their equivalent passing through slotted holes in the plate or bar so that it can be readily raised or advanced as the teeth or projections wear down and, if desired, the plate or bar may be formed with teeth or projections along both of its longitudinal edges so that when one set is worn it can be reversed to bring the other set into position.

50 In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1

1s a fragmentary perspective view illustrating one form of non-slipping device in accordance therewith fitted to the nose of a step, and Fig. 2 is a like view showing the device fitted on the upper surface or tread of the step next the nose. Fig. 3 is a part plan of a reversible tread or device.

The non-slipping device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 consists of a metal plate 2 deeply serrated along one edge to form polnted teeth 3. The plate 2 is attached to the front or nose of the step or stair tread 4 so that the tips of the teeth 3 are flush or substantially flush with the upper sur face of the step or stair tread or the surface of a tread secured thereto. Preferably, the serrated plate 2 is used in combination with a non-slipping tread 5 composed of woven or unwoven organic or inorganic fibres or fibrous material impregnated with and bonded by a waterproof cementitious substance, such non-slipping material being secured on the step or stair tread 4E, and the serrated plate being secured to the front edge or nose of the step or stair tread so that the tips of the teeth are flush or sub stantially flush with the non-slipping material 5, as shown in Fig. 1.

If desired, the serrated plate 2 may be secured on the step or stair tread 4 flush with a tread 5 and with the tips of the teeth 3 in line or flush, or substantially so, with the front edge or nose thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. In such cases, the upper surface of the plate 2 may be suitably roughened.

The serrated plate 2 may be secured by screws 6 or their equivalent and the holes 7 in the plate may be slotted to permit of its being readily raised or advanced as the teeth 3 wear.

In some cases, the plate 2 may be serrated along opposite edges to form teeth 3, as shown in Fig. 3, so that it may be reversed when one set of teeth is worn down. In this form, the screws serve to secure the plate to the nose or tread by an elongated slot 7' in a manner similar to that described above for the other embodiments.

Non-slipping devices according to the invention are especially applicable for use on the steps and stairs of tramcars and omnibuses.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A non-slipping attachment for stairs or steps comprising a comb-like member attachable to the steps or stairs with the free ends of the teeth of the member terminating at and forming the forward edge of the tread of the step.

2. A n0nslipping attachment for steps comprising a plate attachable to a step and having a serrated. edge forming, when attached to the step, the forward corner upper edge of the thread of the step.

3. A non-slipping attachment for steps comprising a plate attachable to a step for adjustment toward and from the forward, upper corner edge of the tread of the step and having a serrated edge forming, when attached to the step, the forward upper corner edge ofthe tread of the step.

4. Anon-slipping attachment for steps comprising a plate having elongated apertures therein, screws passing through the apertures for clamping the plate to the face of a. step and permitting adjustment of the plate toward and from the intersection of the riser and tread faces of the step, said plate being serrated along the edge at said intersection.

5. A non-slipping attachment for steps comprising a plate, means for attaching the plate to one face of the step to form the intersection between the riser and tread faces, said plate having serrations along a plurality of edges whereby the plate may be placed upon the step with any serrated edge at the intersection of the riser and tread faces.

6. A non-slipping attachment for steps comprising a plate having a plurzilit 1 of serrated edges, means for attaching th to one face of the step to place any serrated edge at the intersection of the riser and tread faces with provision for adjust ment of the plate toward and from said intersection.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HERBERT FROOD.

e plate 1 

